Grundschule St Bernhardt

Last Thursday and Today (Monday) we observed in another school. This school is for students 1^st grade to 4^th grade. The students would go to whichever Grundschule is closest to their house. After visiting the Gymnasium earlier last week we were all a little bit worried about visiting the grundscule because we were afraid that we would not be able to get much out of the experience since the students will be able to only speak very minimal English. But on the contrary! It was fun! One thing you learn when spending time with kids that don’t speak the same language as you is:

“The language of kid is universal. They don’t need words in order to communicate.”

Thursday we observed in two different classrooms. And then also in a P.E class. Here’s a picture of us dancing with the class:

The fourth graders understood quite a bit more English than the first graders we saw. Although it was very clear that they were much more reluctant to want to speak English than the older kids we saw last week.  When the first grade teacher told the class they were going to do a lesson in English they all moaned and groaned. But after the lesson started the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The teacher explained to us that in the younger grades (about 1^st and 2^nd grades) the students only learn how to speak and listen in English. It isn’t till 3^rd or 4^th grade that they begin to write and do minimal reading. In the younger grades they primarily learn the language through fun songs, chants and pictures.

Today we went back to the school and it was field trip day! Yay! Field trips in German schools seem quite different than field trips in American schools. The field trip was a hike through the woods. Now when I say hike, I mean it was quite a hike! I’m surprised that these little kids (they were 1^st graders) could make it up these hills. Well maybe its just culture shock and being from IL I’m not used to hills. Where are all the cornfields and flat land?? The students had been learning about the earth and on this trip to the woods they were going to collect dirt, rocks, leaves and moss.  So these three classes of 1^st graders walked for about an hr up hill where we rested and had a snack. Then we walked a little bit further into the woods. The students then collected different things. I don’t think I’ve ever done a field trip like this. I feel that schools in America would be to worried of kids wandering off, getting dirty or not able to hike that far. And yes a lot of the kids get muddy, some strayed a little to far at times and maybe an occasional moan about the steep hill but in the end everyone made it back safe and seemed to have a good time.

Once the kids got over being shy, they wouldn’t leave us be! They were just so cute.  Tony had started  giving one of the kids a piggy back rides, so then of course everyone wanted one. Here’s a video of how it all went down:

And then Vanessa also had some kids that wanted piggy back rides. Here’s the result of that:

And then here is one of my little buddies that wouldn’t leave my side:

                                                  

And here’s something super cute. We came across a rudabaga patch. And guess what the kids did? …

                              

Precious Right??

I think the thing I learned the most about this experience was that kids are kids. It doesn’t matter what language they speak, where they live or what culture they’re from they are still the same. They strive for attention, to feel special or wanted and they have a never ending thirst to learn about the world around them.